...if you could go to hell for using it? From what I read, Hell is a really, really bad place, for eternity. That's not a gift if there's even a chance of going there.
2007-08-14 02:26:49 · 17 answers · asked by ccrider 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
...and if babies are exempt, I'd rather be a baby all my life, even a chance of going to Hell is a scary thing.
2007-08-14 02:30:04 · update #1
...or does God put Hell there to make me to choose out of fear?
2007-08-14 02:31:18 · update #2
Free will (in the sense of being able to chose spiritual good) is a phantom, there is no such thing in the Bible! Unbelievers are "dead in trespasses and sins." (Ephesians 2:1); they are not only spiritually sick, they are spiritually DEAD.
The only gifts that the Holy Spirit confers on sinners are the graces of repentance and faith. And these gifts are given to the elect alone.
2007-08-14 10:47:22 · answer #1 · answered by Kidd! 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a gift in that you choose how you use it. The fact you may end up in Hell doesn't take away from the fact that free will is a gift. If free will were FORCED upon us, it wouldn't be FREE WILL, would it? There'd be no need for Christ's sacrifice, Hell or anything having to do with sin. Therefore, free will is the gift that HOPEFULLY helps us realize before it's too late the measure of the depth of God's love for us.
2007-08-14 10:45:32 · answer #2 · answered by bigvol662004 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For one thing, Hell is not eternal. Free will is a gift because if we didn't have free will and we were forced to follow God and go to heaven, it wouldn't be worth it. God's angels would not want to follow God if he forced people to follow him. The living things on other planets (Ellen G. White explains it all) would also consider God unfair. So, even if you did go to Hell, it would have been your choice, so everything would be fair. Hope that helped
2007-08-14 09:33:28 · answer #3 · answered by Dude Scimmy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Free will is a gift.
Its the lack of good judgement that is flawed.
From an early age we know right from wrong, and free will is what you use to decide.
Religion gives you faith in good and evil, which is the same thing as right and wrong, and gives you a picture of eternity based on your decision.
Your deciding is free will, get it. And the freedom to choose is a gift.
2007-08-14 09:38:43 · answer #4 · answered by Nurse Winchester 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 + 2 = 4.
Understand that the same Source Who created perfect principles of mathematics which operate undeviatingly to create ONLY 4 as the answer also created US out of perfect principles, the correct application of which enables us to accomplish anything consistent with those principles.
This includes the exercise of what is called, ‘free will’. WHY? Because…
We do not learn how to manifest 4 by adding 2 plus 3, or by any other mistaken application of mathematical principles. We may recognize that we have MADE A MISTAKE, yes. However, we learn to manifest 4 by adding 2 plus 2, and by recognizing that 4 is the correct solution in EVERY instance. We cannot escape conformance to the principles of our own Being, any more than we can escape the principles of mathematics to produce correct answers. However, we can learn to operate (live) in conformance to those principles to produce correct answers and productive lives.
The results of our incorrect perceptions (mistakes) about the principles governing your Being are inescapable, but correctable. When the correct perception IS CORRECTLY APPLIED, the resultant “answers” (if recognized as such) enables us to declare the truth of that experience to ourselves. The results of correctly applying the principles governing our Being are ALSO inescapable, to our eternal good. That is the operative principle behind "Ye shall reap what you sow".
Consequently, we don't then merely believe 2 and 2 equal 4, we KNOW it, because now, having "lived the solution", the knowledge becomes an "inescapable" part of us. How one comes to the knowledge of the "Truth that makes you free" is as varied as the number of ways we approach remembering multiplication tables. The approach to multiplication tables is usually to memorize them by rote until the correct answers become "second" nature. The recognition, acceptance, and practice of spiritual principles, including the exercise of free will, ultimately uncovers the omnipresence of our original, "first" nature (the I AM in us).
We then come to recognize that the suffering lives we've adopted on Earth are the result of accepting a paradigm of false and mistaken perceptions about the nature of our Being, and from practicing its tenants with such fervor that it has obscured our own recognition of our own original nature....UNTIL WE CORRECT THE MISTAKE in perception.
This is the truth about free will. The gift is in BEING FREE to make mistakes so that you can learn from them....NOT in being penalized (hell) for making mistakes.
No sooner than we correct the mistake in perception inside ourselves, and apply the solution....that the benefit leads to further experience to apply the principles that YOU KNOW are now a permanent part of you.
I'd say that's a pretty good way to learn about the wonder of your Self and especially about the Giver of such a gift as free will....
What will YOU choose to "add" to your experience?
Orin
2007-08-14 11:24:40 · answer #5 · answered by guthrio 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Choose God out of love. God gave his Son - Jesus Christ - for you and for me. He loves us - God does not wish that any would perish (go to Hell) but that all would come to repentence - that means He is waiting on you to choose Him -to choose Life - to choose Jesus over yourself and your own agenda. Stop doing things your way - do them God's way - Choose Jesus dear one. God is a God of love - He made us - He can choose to do away with us if He wishes - but He gives us a Way to be saved - Jesus Christ - because of love - there is no evil in God - that is not in His character - His nature is Love. Listen - God is the Potter - we are the clay. The clay does not tell the Potter what to do - He made us - He is in control - not us. I pray you find Truth - Jesus Christ.
2007-08-14 09:35:40 · answer #6 · answered by jworks79604 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not really a gift, he just didn't want mindless androids doing he's bidding . . ., would you rather a partner that was a robot or had free will to freely love you?
2007-08-14 09:34:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The other half of the formula is a God that forgives our errors (miss use of free will) when we truly repent.
2007-08-14 09:32:50 · answer #8 · answered by keezy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As opposed to being created a mindless automaton, I'll take free will even if there is a risk that I'll misuse it.
2007-08-14 09:30:15 · answer #9 · answered by Sharon M 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Maybe your God is "testing" you to see if you're smart enough to use his free gift!
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2007-08-14 09:33:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋